Courage tends to fade just at the thought of running in the cold. However, practicing the activity these days can be very beneficial. Understand!
It’s only when the temperatures start to drop that that instant urge to curl up under the duvet and eat so-called “comfort foods” comes, as the courage usually disappears at the thought run in the cold or do some other physical activity.
However, this shouldn’t be an excuse for a sedentary lifestyle to prevail. On the contrary! Exercising in the fall and winter has several benefits, according to exercise educator Vanessa Fusrtenberger, training expert for runners.
According to her, in addition to increasing energy and the willingness to endure all of the day’s activities, running in the cold also boosts the body’s immunity, as well as being more comfortable to sweat through the jersey than when temperatures are warmer.
Next, the pro points out tips and good reasons for wanting to ditch the pajamas and go running again!
How to prevent injuries when running in the cold
To avoid injury, Vanessa recommends warming up your joints locally so they lubricate and prepare for exercise.
“After this local preparation, it is good to do a general warm-up, such as a light jog, to start adapting the cardiopulmonary part – no more than 10 minutes – and only then do a short stretch so that the muscles can respond with greater flexibility before of the race itself.”
Pay attention to the clothes you will wear
For running in the cold, thermal and windproof suits are best, as they are lightweight and easy to remove when your body temperature rises.
“It doesn’t matter which option you choose: the important thing is to start the run warmer and take off your clothes little by little, because after training your body cools down very quickly and you will already have a shirt to protect yourself quickly” , teaches Vanessa.
Keep your metabolism up
If you are one of those people who usually need an extra motivation to put aside laziness to train in cold weather, the professional reminds you that, in cold weather, the body needs to maintain a faster metabolism to stay in the heat and, together with that, the release of the hormone irisin has been studied, which helps in the process of weight loss and which would be released with the combination of physical exercise and exposure to cold.
“When you combine all this extra caloric expenditure and the calories expended in a race, we can say that you lose more weight in the cold, especially if you are outdoors.”
Tips for running in the cold
– Choose warmer times during the day to run, like lunchtime;
– Start the activity with warmer clothes and remove the pieces as the body warms up;
– Drink water, because despite the lower amount of apparent sweat and little thirst, the body becomes dehydrated and any setback due to loss of water must be avoided;
– Feed yourself correctly and balanced, so you’ll avoid a decrease in immune defenses;
– Set goals to achieve with your running (practices, overcoming times, increasing mileage) and, thus, you will feel encouraged to stay in training and maintain regularity even during the winter.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
